Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers Salary
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers in Virginia make a median of $45,390 a year, or about $21.82 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $64K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $47,885 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 53.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Virginia. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $45K get you in Virginia?
About fabric and apparel patternmakers
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What this looks like in Virginia
Pay for fabric and apparel patternmakers in Virginia runs about 28% below the U.S. median of $63K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,646/month, which is 54.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for fabric and apparel patternmakerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level fabric and apparel patternmakers (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $64K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track fabric and apparel patternmakers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a fabric and apparel patternmaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 54.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for fabric and apparel patternmakers in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fabric and apparel patternmakers typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,267/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 73% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is fabric and apparel patternmaker a high-paying job in Virginia?
Local pay runs 28% below the national median — $45K here vs. $63K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for fabric and apparel patternmakers?
Virginia pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -28%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $48K — below the national median.
How much do fabric and apparel patternmakers make in Virginia?
The median is $45,390 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,780, and experienced fabric and apparel patternmakers can clear $63,500. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,035/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 54.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a fabric and apparel patternmakers salary go in Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median fabric and apparel patternmakers salary is worth about $47,885 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do fabric and apparel patternmakers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.